INTERPOL initiated a workshop involving the private sector in order to raise awareness among private companies who find themselves dealing with cases of human trafficking and people smuggling. The cooperation between law enforcement the private sector will allow for a better exchange of information and address the gaps in combating organized crime.
PROGRAMMER
The workshop consisted of 5 panels, with 3 speakers in each panel.
The five panels were:
Panel 1: New methods of communication to investigate human trafficking and people smuggling
Panel 2: Accommodation- trends and threats related to trafficking human beings and people smuggling
Panel 3: Transportation- trends and threats related to trafficking human beings and people smuggling
Panel 4: Illicit Flow of Money and Assets: the financial system behind trafficking of human beings and people smuggling
Panel 5: Supply chain – methods of exploitation within the production line
STAKEHOLDERS
This workshop brought together numerous companies from the private sector including representatives from Carson Wagonlit (hotels), Uber, Facebook, Air Asia, Marriott, NEC, Quomodo, Airbnb, Western Union and Standard Bank in addition to law enforcement officers operating in the fields of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.
Private companies from all over the world operating in the transportation, accommodation, social media, financial sectors, supply chain as well as members of the Human Trafficking Expert Group and the INTERPOL Specialized and Operational Network (ISON) attended.
AAI presented Panel 3 with Uber, Carlson Wagonlit, and Air Asia as an INTERPOL Human Trafficking and People Smuggling Group (Human Trafficking Expert Group).
OUTCOMES TO BE ACHIEVED
Following this workshop, INTERPOL will have an overview of the existing tools currently in use by the private sector. This will allow the team to draft a report which will inform the team’s next steps in terms of closer cooperation with the private sector. Furthermore, this workshop highlighted the ways that INTERPOL can better assist the companies in antitrafficking efforts, and in turn, how these companies may support international law enforcement.
The overall aim of this workshop is to support the private sector in their endeavors to dismantle transnational criminal networks while protecting the human rights of victims of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. AAI will provide a later update of the outcomes after INTERPOL publishes them.
